Traction clamp



Feb. 17, 1931. A E, KEATES 1,792,911

TRACTION CLAMP Filed July 6, 1929 Patented Feb. 1'7,Y 1931 OFFICE ALBERT EDWARD KEATES; or SOUTH rionouriivn, ONTARIO, CANADA TRAcTioN CLAMP Application fired July c, 192s. fseriai lNt. 376,298.

This invention relates to improvements in traction Vclamps for automobiles, trucks and the like and the object ofthe invention is to `provide an improved anden-ovel form of clamp 5 which may be removably mounted upon the rear wheel of the vehicle for use in providing the necessary `traction for getting out of a mud-hole or bad piece of road.l Y

A further object is to provide suoli a clamp 10 which may be conveniently 'and quickly VVattached and removed from the wheel Vand which is only intended for temporary use when diiiiculti'es are encountered such as when one or both wheels are stuck in a mudfhole and skid failing to provide the requisite traction. A further Object is to providesuch a clamp which will be of simple and inexpensive construction and wl'iichwill be very durable.

which, when mounted on the wheel7 may be securely held thereon so as to maintain its position.. v y Y v The invention consists ofthe construction andfiarrangement of parts, -all `as hereinafter more particularly-described, and illustrated lin the accompanying drawings in which,V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved elamp, an attaching chain forming part thereof being partly shown in broken lines.

Figure `2 is a side elevation Vof the improved clampyaloking lever forming part thereof being shown in an intermediate position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the improved clamp, the locking lever being shown in the locked position and being partly broken away. Figure is an end view of the improved clamp in position upon a wheel, the rim and tire of the wheel being indicated in brokenA C@ lines and a locking lever forming part of the clamp being shown in an intermediate position. n

In the drawings like characters of refererence indicate corresponding parts in each 45 figure. t Y

AThe improved clamp consists of a substantially rectangular metal plate 10 which is curved longitudinally to conform to the cure vatureof the circumference of the tire upon which it is to be used.

l-idjacentto each end of tlielplate vi10 is secured an vangle bar 111r whichb'ars' extend transversely of the plate 10 and one flange'12 tlieieofis secured to the plate 10 by means of two rivets 13 which rivets are Vlocated kadjacenttothecoriicrs ofthe plate 'lO'and the extending from the ',under'face ofthe plate adjacent to` eachside thereof. The other ia-nges 15 of the angles 11 are upstanding from the plate 10.

Secured tothe plateV intermediately yof the angles 11 is a channel bar'16 which also extends transversely-Of the plate Land the fen'ds of this channel extend beyondthe lateral edges of the plate.

Y The wenn'ofthe@materies-Securedto A further object is to provide a clamp the plate 10 and the flanges 18 are upstanding p from the plate and form spaced'apart flanges upst an ding from the upper face of the plate. Adjacent to one end thereof the lweb 17 is formed with a notch19 and at theV other end is formed with a slot 2O theY purpose of which will be presently explained. Y

f A lever 21 is `formed with a bifurcated end 22- the extremities'23 of thev `bifurcation being pivotally mounted in the flanges 18 of the channel 16 so that the `lever 21 isswing- Aheads of theserivets on the underface ofthe Y plate are enlarged to ormprotuberaiices 14 t able transverselyofV the `plate aboutV these l" pivotal points Aichain 24'ihas one end thereof secured' to thellever 21 intermediately of thelength thereof atf25. V y

The rim of a'vehicle wheel is indicated'in broken lines in Figure 4 by the lnumeral 26 f' and a tirev carried by said rim is indicated in place it against the circumference of the tire 27 and with the lever .721*swung outwardly or away froinfthe channel 16 the chain 24 is passed underneath and around tlierim 26 and is drawn upwardly and securedfto the opposite end of the channel by inserting one of the links ofthe chain into the slot 20, =as shown clearly in Figure 3. The lever 21 is then swung to its extreme inner position (shown in Figure 3) in which it lies against theweb 17 of thechannel and'betweenthe '57:

flanges 18 andWhen swung into this position it will be evident that the chain 24 is tight ened so that the clamp is firmly held in position upon the tire. As the lever 21 is thus swung inwardly the chain 24 passes through the bifurcated end 22 of the lever.

During this tightening operation of the chain it Will also be evident that the protuberances lll on the under side of the plate are pressed into the tire 27 to more securely hold the clamp in position.

The position of the slot 20, it Will be apparent, forms means for detachably connecting the free end of the chain to the side of the clamp remote from that at which the lever 21 is pivoted.

lf desired, instead of the provision of the slot 20, a hook, indicated in broken lines at 2S in Figure Ll, could he used for securing the free end of the chain, in which case one of the links of the chain Would be connected to this hook.

The device is intended only for temporary use in getting out of a bad mud-hole or road or portion of a road and as soon as a vehicle is free thereof the clamp would be removed but the construction is such that the attachment and removal may be very conveniently and quickly accomplished.

In the drawings the clamp has been shown as provided with only one chain but for use on large trucks it might be advisable to use two chains in which case a channel 1G and lever 21 with the associated parts would be provided at each end of the clamp instead o f merely one such device placed centrally of the clamp as shown.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the improved clamp provides a device of the class described whereby the objects set forth have been attained.

Various modi'cations may be made in this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in the accompanving claims.

lVhat l claim as my invention is 1. A traction clamp for a vehicle jvheel comprising a metal plate curved longitudinally to conform to the circumference of the Wheel, an angle iron extending transversely of the plate adjacent to each end thereof, one flange of each of said angles secured to the upper face of the plate and the other flange upstanding therefrom, a channel iron extending transversely of the plate intermediaely ofthe length thereof, the web of said channel secured to the upper face of the plate and the flanges upstanding therefrom, a lever having a bifurcated end pivotally connected in the upstanding flanges of the channel adjacent to one end of said channel, a chain having one end connected to said lever interinediately of its length, and means for detachably connecting the free end of the chain to the other end of the channel.

2. A traction clamp according to claim 1 in which the plate is rectangular and carries a protuberance on its under face adjacent to each corner thereof.

8. A' traction clamp according to claim 1 in which each angle is secured to the plate by a rivet adjacent to each end of the angle, the heads of said rivets forming protuberances on the under face of the plate.

il. A traction clamp for a vehicle wheel comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular metal plate curved longitudinally to conform to the circumferencoof theI Wheel, an angle iron extending transversely vof the plate and beyond the lateral edges of the plate adjacent to each end thereof and secured thereto by a rivet adjacent to each end of the angle iron, the heads of the rim s forming protuberanccs on the under -side of the plate adapted to contact With the tire of said Wheel, one flange of each of said angles secured to the upper face of the plate and the other flange upstanding therefrom, a channel iron extending transversely of the plate intermcdiately of the length thereof, said channel iron extending beyond the lateral edges of the plate7 the web of sai d chaunel secured to the upper face of the pla' e and the flanges upstanding therefrom, a lever having a bifurcated end pivotally connected in the upstanding flanges of the channel adjacent to one end of said channel, a chain having one end connected to said lever intermedia* ely of its length, and means for detachably connecting the free end of une chain to the other end of the channel, which cousists in providing one end of the web of the channel with a slot adapted to detachablv receive a chain linlr.4 l

In wit-ness whereof I have hereunto set mv hand. u

ALBERT Dl/VARI) KETES. 

